Disaster Management & Emergency Planning: Floods in UK - Research Paper Example

Disaster Management and Emergency Planning Climate change is a big factor to consider, especially now, when talking about natural disasters and calamities. Different countries around the world is experiencing different disasters such as earthquakes, flooding, thunderstorms and tsunamis just to name a few. Climate change is a very alarming phenomenon that the world is currently experiencing. Recently, there are a lot of calamities and disasters that are occurring to different parts of the world. From forest fires to flash floods, there are countries which are least expected to have natural disasters. For one, there were earthquakes that happened in South America. There were tsunami and flood occurrences in countries in Asia. However, some natural disasters are also man-made in a way that human practices cause such disasters like flooding. Everyone should be prepared for such events because no one can actually dictate when and where it will happen. Through the government agencies concerned with disaster and calamity situations, people should be prepared from the risks that endanger human lives whenever possible. With this, civilians should be well aware of what emergency arrangements agencies planned and are ready to carry out whenever situation arises. Not only does the Asian countries experience calamities such the flood in the Philippines and the tsunami in Thailand and Indonesia. Western European countries have flooding incidents as well. There were several major floods that happened in the United Kingdom, making up the summer 2007 floods. The country now utilizes the U.K Inland Flood Model, a model with numerical approach of estimating the risk of floods (RMS, 2008). It also provides modeling of flooding from major and minor rivers, as well as surface water flooding and overflow of drainages. This will measure the loss of the properties that will be damaged by the calamity. In addition to what’s stated in the website of Risk Management Solutions Inc. (2008), there is also this Pan-Europe Rainfall Events Model where it represents scenarios that may occur given different volume and duration of rainfall in different form, be it as thunderstorms, winter and summer rainfalls. There are still a lot of models employed by United Kingdom to measure the risk that will be taken once minor or major floods suddenly happen in the country. In line with this, this study will focus on the United Kingdom flood management. Approaches to emergency situations like preparedness and after incident practices will be critically analyzed. Strategies and the coordination of several agencies will be cited to be followed by point of view of the author. PRINCIPLES OF EMERGENCY PLANNING For an individual to be prepared in emergency planning, one must know the likelihood of experiencing one and the gravity of what the situation will bring about. Flooding can be a very serious threat to individuals because it poses a lot of possible outcomes not only to properties but to lives of masses as well. It can destroy properties like furniture and cars, kill people through drowning, and lose family members. As an example, in a certain region, there are some cities that are highly vulnerable to calamities such as flooding. These cities are highly likely to experience this calamity whenever strong rain pours or during intense thunderstorms. To avoid, or at least minimize, the risk of experiencing heavy flooding, one must carefully plan out where to build a family home. In the United Kingdom, Environment Agency puts up before and after flooding emergency plans so as to prepare individuals whenever there will be flood occurrences. Flood maps are used to know which areas are with high risk of flooding (Environment Agency, 2010). These areas usually are around rivers and seas. The flood map, however, serves as a guide only on picking the right location on building a family home. In this map, there are instructions to follow that will help out in guiding individuals the probability, whether it is low or significant, of experiencing flood (Environment Agency, 2010). Once an individual knows the risk of their location, it is their responsibility to have their own personal plan for the family. It is best to pile in one secured area all the important belongings of the family like real estate titles, bank books, travel documents and jewelries. The place where it should be kept should be secured, water-resistant and is easily movable. Flood Warnings are established by the Environment Agency so as to prepare civilians on when flooding might occur in the area. Residents of the United Kingdom are encouraged to sign up for the Floodline Warnings Direct so that they may be given updates and status of their areas, if there will be floods occurring soon and if the chances become high. Alert for individuals are done via telephone, emails, text messages and even through fax (Environment Agency, 2010). In this way, there is a personal touch on preparing and giving out legitimate alerts to residents whenever calamities are imminent. This program of the Environment Agency prepares an individual by giving out advices like making a flood plan, preparing family home or business for occurrences of flooding, tips on the insurances like its effect on the premiums and covered risks. This flood warning program of the United Kingdom is a very good idea when it comes to preparing people in the course of flooding. A lot of people in different countries have a very busy professional life and sometimes do not have the time to even check out updates on what is happening around the world and on the news locally. Floodline Warnings Direct is an efficient way on giving out one on one advice and alerts to people who have a very busy daily schedule. For one, it provides an individual signed up in this service to be attentive of what is going to happen, say in a week or so. If there will be predictions of heavy pour of rain or flash floods, this service will be the ones to inform and spread out the news to people who are enrolled in this service of the Environment Agency. Sometimes, people do not actually care about predictions of disasters and calamities. They only become attentive once they had a firsthand experience of the situation. People do not actually have an idea on the gravity of the effects a certain disaster situation might bring about but then this program of United Kingdom brings out, in a way, an idea of what might happen in the community concerned. This program is a way of communicating with the masses in the individual level, a one to one approach in providing preparations and solutions to flooding. Aside from the electronic alerts given out, there will be community wide precautions such as producing loud hailers and sirens activated whenever there is an imminent flood. Aside from the natural occurrence of flood from rivers and nearby seas, there is also surface water flooding which usually occurs whenever drainage systems in the area reached its limit and is unable to cope up with the heavy pour of rain (Environment Agency, 2010). Another cause of flooding is due to the overflow of sewers. It is either the drains burst or they become blocked. Since it is a man made flood occurrence, this situation is not covered by the Floodline Warnings Direct which they do not have the predicting powers of when drainages are blocked or if it bursts. In line with this, it is highly suggested that people should be more responsible when it comes to disposing trash and garbage so as not to cause any blockages in sewer systems. In other countries, surface water floods occur due to the fact that all these factors occurred at once. It is a lethal combination; flood situations caused by the heavy pour of rain, overflow of sewers and blocked drainage system. People must be vigilant about this since this actually happens to areas where drainage systems are not properly planned out and installed. There is more population in the city so that would entail a greater chance of blocking sewers due to more produced trash and improper waste management. Government agencies should be well aware of such plans to give them a greater chance of conjuring flood plans and actions whenever surface water flooding occurs. Since this man made flood is not completely covered in the program Floodline Warnings Direct, it is better to have the private and public agencies to coordinate and make sure that there will be a backup plan whenever disastrous situation occurs that will greatly affect a large number of the population. In the event that flood occurs in an area, people should be attentive and must not lose sense on what should be done during the situation. It is a known fact that flood water is dangerous. People should know that they should try not to walk and drive through it. There is danger in walking against the current of flood water that an individual may completely lose balance, therefore inflicting much more danger such as taking in dirty flood water or worst, drowning. Furthermore, there is a high probability of getting injured in the process of stumbling down once an individual gets knocked down by the fast flow of flood water. Not only that, once pavements are invisible due to the heavy flow of flood water, it may hide openings in the ground such as manholes. During flood situations, people should be well aware of when and where to evacuate. The government should be able to provide centers where people evacuated from their properties could stay with most protection and where they will have security of their lives. Disaster preparedness should include employing proper allocation of budget in building shelter for refugees and stocking up supplies such as toiletries for the families aggravated by the calamity. Food and clothing should be provided as well. Evacuation center should be built in areas where it has low risk of experiencing floods. These dwelling during evacuation should have a good number of bathrooms installed for the safety and hygiene of the people who will be cramped in the place once evacuation of people actually occurs. Evacuation facilities should provide the basic yet comfortable and safe accommodation for the people greatly affected by flood so as to minimize injuries, fatalities and illness throughout the period when people are gathered in an area where they all share the same space. In a country where they do proper budget allocation, government should have a better grip of the situation of calamities such as flooding. Proper management and practices should be observed once this disastrous event happens. In the event that flood water has a gradual and fast increase in height, search and rescue teams from the government agencies should be dispatched as soon as possible. They should be able to evacuate people who are in danger and help them on their way to safety. Once these evacuated people are settled in the evacuation centers, the government should have the ability to provide them with the essentials like drinking water, food and blanket to keep them warm for the moment. Since natural disasters cannot be avoided, the least that the government agencies can do is to provide people safety during times of emergencies. KEY ORGANIZATIONS AND ITS ROLE ON DISASTER MANAGEMENT In the United Kingdom, the government agency active in disaster management is the Environment Agency. They provide readily available information to the residents as well as plans of preparations before, during, and after the calamity. Environment Agency gives out advice on how to cope with the situation once it happens to a family or business property; how to claim insurances after the incident. Aside from the fact that they prepare individuals who are aware of the existence of this government body, they provide forecasts of whether there are incoming risks and manage land, river and coastal areas to prepare for defense and response for unexpected flood occurrences. Aside from the government agencies involved in disaster management and emergency planning, there are private sectors that are also concerned when it comes to disaster management and coping with the disaster. Basically, insurance agencies are also stakeholders whenever there are catastrophes that happen in an area. Post disaster, aggravated individuals with properties insured with claim to their respective insurance companies from the damages incurred by the property. With this, insurance agencies utilize modeling technologies for catastrophes so that they can gauge the risk and the liabilities that they will incur whenever there will be disasters that will occur. Another agency that is highly concerned in the community during disasters and calamities is the RMS. It is a consulting firm that is involved in developing models that are useful in measuring numerically and descriptively the losses that may occur in an area struck by flood. Some of the models being utilized by this agency was discussed earlier in this study and is mainly focused on measuring the losses an owner loses in the event of disaster and the losses that insurance companies might incur once property owners start claiming insurance benefits from damaged properties. RELATIONSHIP OF STAKEHOLDERS Ideally, stakeholders in disastrous occurrences should be working together to achieve a goal that will benefit majority. From the entities discussed above, it is very much important that the private firms such as RMS consulting and insurance companies existing in the area cooperate and discuss the ways on how to properly give out security to the property owners. From the models and predictions produced by the consultancy firm, they will be able to provide insurance companies the best way to optimize the premium payment to require insurance holders and on the parameters that will be used to set up to what extent that they will reimburse claims for losses and property damages. Although there may be collusions that such firms may form, people will be more confident to invest in insurances for their properties. Since it will be based on studies made by experts of the industry, it will be more reliable for individuals to purchase premiums and protect not only their lives, but their properties as well. On the other hand, government agencies and the main stakeholders who are the individuals should work hand in hand in disaster management and emergency planning. There should be a good amount of information disseminated to people who will be greatly affected by the catastrophe. As discussed earlier, the environment agency of the government should be well prepared when emergency time comes. There should be ample supply that will be provided to high risk individuals and families that will be gathered and will take refuge in shelters especially built for instances like this. Supplies like food, clothing and shelter are just the basic needs that should be well provided by the government agencies. Moreover, individuals who are with low risk are encouraged to work together with the government in relief operations for those gravely affected by calamities. There are instances that those less affected by disasters donate and offer money, relief goods and food and beverage supplies for the high risked individuals. CONCLUSION High importance should be given to the preparation of the people towards disasters and calamities. Now that there are a lot disasters happening all around the world, people should be well aware of the risks they are facing and the probabilities of the catastrophe to hit their areas. With the help of responsible agencies, people can be alarmed on what to do before, during and after the disaster. From Environment Agency of the government of United Kingdom, it enables residents to know more about the flood management of the government. They have started a program that will enable individuals to have updates on the coming calamities. They established the Floodline Warnings Direct which provides help services to individuals by sending out alerts through telephone, text messaging, email and fax. In a way, it provides a more personal communication with the concerned parties and will have a more direct way of preparing people who will be highly affected by the calamity. There are several private and public agencies that are considered part of the stakeholders whenever there will be catastrophes that will happen in an area. There are the individuals who will have the highest risk once flood strikes. Government involvement will have importance in the preparation and the coping periods for the residents. These agencies will be responsible for putting up the shelters and providing food and drinking water to the refugees. Without proper budget allocation and planning, a lot of people will suffer especially during times of emergency. With this, it is very necessary to have a good communication between the stakeholders. Consultancy firms and insurance companies should tie up to provide clients maximum utility and give out the best service. If there will be a strong communication between them, there will be less hassle for everyone in the coping period. Parameters will be set to the people whose properties were damaged. All in all, it is a personal responsibility for an individual to have their own flood disaster management procedures. Ultimately, individuals will be the ones responsible for their own safety and their family members. Agencies from the private and public sector are there to provide us with practices and knowledge on how to manage and handle the situation if it is emergency time. References DEFRA, 2007. Summer 2007 Flood Review [Online] Available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/risk/floodreview2007.htm [Accessed December 8, 2010]. DEFRA, 2007. Explanation of Impact Assessments for the Government’s response to the Pitt Review. [Online] Available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/documents/risk/iatable.pdf [Accessed December 8, 2010]. DEFRA, 2008. Local Flood Risk Management [Online] Available at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/flooding/documents/risk/ialfrm.pdf [Accessed December 8, 2010]. Environment Agency. 2010. Flood. [Online] Available at: http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/homeandleisure/floods/default.aspx [Accessed December 8, 2010]. Floods.co.uk, 2010. Flood Insurance. [Online] Available at: http://www.floods.co.uk/Flood_Insurance.htm [Accessed December 8, 2010]. Floods.co.uk, 2010. Flood Risk Assessment. [Online] Available at: http://www.floods.co.uk/Flood_Risk_Assessment.htm [Accessed December 8, 2010]. Floods.co.uk, 2010. Major UK Floods. [Online] Available at: http://www.floods.co.uk/Major_UK_Floods.htm [Accessed December 8, 2010]. Floods.co.uk, 2010. Flood Preparedness. [Online] Available at: http://www.floods.co.uk/Flood_Preparedness.htm [Accessed December 8, 2010]. Red Cross, 2007. Climate Change in Action: UK Floods [Online] Available at: http://www.redcross.org.uk/What-we-do/Emergency-response/Past-emergency-appeals/National-Floods-Appeal-2007/How-the-crisis-unfolded [Accessed December 8, 2010] Red Cross, 2007. 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